What is a Boning Knife?
A boning knife is a kitchen tool designed for removing the bones from cuts of meat, typically before cooking. The highly specialized tool is vital for any cook who wants to create boneless cuts of meat. Butchers and meat processors keep boning knives, as do most commercial kitchens. Most kitchen stores stock boning knives in an assortment of sizes, as different cuts of meat require different boning knives. The blade of a boning knife is thin and short, allowing it to slip easily between the flesh and bone in a cut of meat. The handle may be of varying length, and can be made from wood, plastic, bone, or metal. Using a boning knife ensures that the maximum amount of meat is taken off the bone cleanly, reducing waste in the kitchen. The knife is also kept extremely sharp, so that it can cut cleanly through fibrous tissue.
